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2011 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ: Review notes: It's as big as a house, but the Suburban remains a staff favorite

November 3, 2011

The 5.3-liter V8 in the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ is rated at 320 hp.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: My Suburban love is well documented over the years. Yes, I wish we would have purchased the long-termer we ran for a year a while ago. I loved that truck, and I love this 2011 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ.

I hear all the griping about how big it is, how much gas it burns, etc. But when you are loaded with six or more people and stuff and need to tow something (or not), nothing is more comfortable over the road then the Suburban. It's solid, roomy (duh), plenty powerful and just has an overall smoothness and refinement to it that few other vehicles can match. The new coil-spring front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering helps with the big dude's responsiveness (at 6,000 pounds, "responsiveness" is relative). The brakes are better, too.

This ute's combo of a rock-solid chassis, improved steering, good build quality, good-looking exterior, awesome towing and much better brakes add up to something I'd happily drive every day. Complain all you want about some of the General's cars being mediocre (and those are becoming better all the time), but you can't say that about its big trucks.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: I'm with Wes on this--lots of Suburban love. Few SUVs are as comfortable going down the road as this one. I only wish I had a few more Suburban-like things to do with it, since hauling golf clubs and softball gear was a piece of cake.

The ride is way better than you'd expect in something that is this capable as a truck. The seats are great, and the big V8 hustles the three tons down the road in ease. On my ever-revolving 10-car garage, there's always a space for a Suburban.

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR CHERYL L. BLAHNIK: It's easy to forget just how big the Chevrolet Suburban is. These big rigs have come under attack in recent years for their high fuel consumption with rising gasoline prices, but we have to remember that some people actually need the capabilities of vehicles such as this Chevy, the Nissan Armada, the Infiniti QX56 and the Ford Expedition. There are large families out there who require towing capabilities.

From a visual point of view, it's difficult to make these really large vehicles stylish. The exterior is simple with no gaudy frills, as is the interior. There are creature comforts such as heated seats and an entertainment system to keep the kiddies happy.

On my quick overnight, I found this beast to be fine in the power department. The ride is smooth, and I could easily see myself embarking on a long road trip with a bunch of friends and gear in total comfort.

COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO-WRIGHT: My, how the Suburban has changed! A friend's mom used to drive five of us to elementary school in a 1980s-era Suburban, and it was a barge. Well, it still is, but this model looks much better and is much more inviting that the orange-and-white Chevy people mover of yore.

I like the lines of the big Chevy and its face. The grille and the wheels give it some shine, but it's not overdone. Opening the door, I remembered how spacious these utes are. I wished I could have rounded up a group of folks just to see how many fit comfortably inside. But alas, I was on my own, and I felt weird driving such a large truck by myself. Unless you regularly have the need to transport more than six people and/or lots of large items, I can't really make a case for buying this. But if you do, I would indeed suggest it.

Power is strong from the V8 and always smooth, never a hint of hesitation--sort of surprising for a vehicle weighing almost 6,000 pounds. And the brakes quickly and efficiently bite to bring things to a halt. I never once felt as if I wouldn't stop in time, even dealing with idiot drivers in morning-rush-hour traffic.

The cabin is well trimmed and very comfortable. I especially loved the seat burners. And the sound system was wonderful; I cranked some Latin music just to be able to hear all of the instruments and beats. Excellent. All of the controls are at hand, even in such a large space, and I loved the high driver's position.

Yes, the Suburban is big and expensive. But if you are in the market for such a vehicle and/or need the space, I'd put this on the shopping list.

BARRY WINFIELD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: The Suburban is indeed a large vehicle, almost filling my small Redondo Beach driveway when it was delivered. And the size is reinforced by the step-up height. It makes you feel a bit like a locomotive engineer. But the damn thing drives so nicely, it seems to shrink to something much more manageable within yards.

The new rack-and-pinion steering guides this wide vehicle down narrow lanes with real confidence, and the ride motions are quite well controlled for something weighing this much. That torquey V8 hefts the big truck around as if it weighed half as much as it does, making the Suburban feel lighter on its feet than it ought to. But possibly the most impressive dynamic attribute, I think, is braking performance. The pedal feels solid and readable, and supplies retardation that feels surprisingly strong and reassuring.

I was also impressed by the levels of refinement, and the apparent build quality. In fact, the only major flaw, in my book, is that the Suburban is simply larger than I have a use for. With a sticker price over sixty grand and with city gas consumption rated at 15 mpg, this big boy is a great ride for a well-heeled boat owner with plenty of friends.

Wes Raynal
- Wes Raynal joined Crain Communications’ circulation department while still in college. When he graduated in 1986, he became a reporter for Autoweek sister publication Automotive News. He has worked as Autoweek’s associate editor, news editor, motorsports editor and executive editor before being named editor in 2009.
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